8 Side Chapter: My Debut ~ Leona

*Leona's POV*

It's 2 hours before the Affinity Test Ceremony and I'm feeling so nervous. What if I don't do well, I'll be a disappointment to my family, what will my father and mother think? How will my little sister look at me after this day?...

"I CAN'T DO THIS!" I panicked, breaking down and huddling up in a ball crying.

*Knock Knock* "Can I come in sweetie?" mother's voice softly drifts into my ears.

"...y-ye-ss" I manage to squeak, trying to stop my tears from falling.

"Oh dear, what's wrong sweetie? Are you feeling alright? Why are you crying on your big day?" Mother quickly said concerned, whilst tightly embracing me.

Her action makes me break down and continue crying in her embrace. I can feel her gently stroking my hair with care, her loving care for me makes me feel safe and warm.

After a while, I finally manage to explain to her about my fears of disappointing her, father and especially Lily (Lilith). She giggles finding out about my anxious thoughts and patiently explains to me that I shouldn't be worrying about that stuff, "You're only 6 sweetie, we are your family we will always love, and accept you no matter what, that's what family is for. So you shouldn't be worried about these thoughts, just have fun and enjoy your debut into society today. Okay?"

"Okay, mother," I say happily, smiling brightly. Now that I've got no more worries I can enjoy today.

In the next few minutes mother helps me change into a beautiful pastel pink dress, she also braids my hair and places small flowers in my hair for a finishing touch. By the time I'm done we have 40 minutes left before the ceremony, so we hurriedly get into the awaiting carriage outside the manor and head to the kingdom's main hall.

Arriving in front of the kingdom's main hall, I was struck with awe at the huge, white, elegant building before me. We walk up the steps towards the entrance, where two guards were blocking the door, they seem to recognize father and greet him whilst stepping aside. We enter where another fancy dressed man announced our family, "Presenting the Carter Household, Duke Greyson Stone Carter, Duchess Maria Joy Carter and their eldest daughter Leona Tulip Carter."

Heads turn towards us, staring and whispers start within the crowd, Mother notices my nervousness gives me a reassuring smile before we start making our way to an empty seat.

We wait for the ceremony to begin, but during the waiting, I can't shake off the numerous stares I'm receiving from everyone. I ball up my fists trying to focus on something that could help me relax, then a thought enters my mind, my little sister Lily (Lilith) who's at home right now. I can imagine her right now probably eating sweets to her heart's content with cake all over her mouth, with that adorable look of love and happiness in her eyes whilst eating her slice of strawberry cake. The thought brings bought a giggle from my lips, and before I knew it, I felt myself relaxing, and not minding everyone's stares cause right now all that mattered was that my family was with me and I that after tonight I could go back to play with little Lilith.

I knew that my unexpected giggle would attract some attention but I didn't mind, since when asked by father and mother. I just told them what I was thinking about Lily back at the manor and after hearing it they both gave a knowing look to each other before laughing too. I could see how our family attracted numerous eyes filled with curiosity, jealousy, scorn but who cares about them when mother, father and I are enjoying ourselves thinking about our precious little Lilith's adorably funny antics.

*No one's POV*

A few moments later the ceremony commenced, starting off with the prayer to the spirits and gods of this world. Then the high priest on the council of magic, from the middle continent says a few words on behalf of the council of magic and starts the Affinity test.

The high priest with his assistant brings out a round transparent globe, which he explains will show what affinity the individual has once they place their hand on it. After the affinity test, the individual will have to step into an enchantment circle to release their contracted guardian spirit beasts.

"The ball will start at 6pm, Let the ceremony commence!" the high priest announces loudly.

"May all the children who are turning 6 this year or have turned 6 last year but missed the test last year please stand and line up beside my assistant."

The noises of nervous whispers erupt from the children as they follow his order, and just like how the story of the heroine should go, Leona was placed behind the two villainous who were 5th and 6th in line. The first 4 children you could guess were the original games capture targets.

*Leona's POV*

"May the Crown Prince of Azrael, Kai Rogers Azrael come forth and place his hand onto the holy orb." the high priest says benevolently, to which a boy with light blue hair and dull amber eyes stepped forward. He was dressed in a cute but cool, dark blue princes uniform, he was wearing a bright smile but from here it felt icy and not very nice. But somehow it was like only I felt that way all the other girls especially the two in front of me were giggling and whispering happily about him.

*No-ones POV*

As the boy's hand made contact with the orb, it glowed a bright light grey then flashed to a royal purple. It looked so pretty and magical, "Your highness has the affinity to not only 1 element but two, 1 being uncommon which is the Metal attribute and a rare attribute being Poison. Truly a naturally born genius of the Azrael kingdom." The high priest announces surprised, to which the boy only smiled and nodded. "Now please step into the enchantment circle your highness," a few seconds after the boy stepped into the drawn circle which contained many weird-looking symbols, a strike of white light blasted through the hall blinding everyone. Once the light disappeared a white, silver, thin dragon appeared, "Oh my stars, Your highness has a rank 7 Royal whiplash dragon with the metal attribute." after the priest announcement the whole room erupted in whispers, mainly due to the fact that there hasn't been any extremely high-rank guardian wielders for centuries beside the 5 kingdoms leaders and some outstanding generals.

This event happened with the next 3 sets of boys, being the 2nd prince of Azrael, Daniel Wilber Azrael the twin of Kai. Having bluish silver hair, with a cool but unapproachable aura, he was also dressed in the same prince uniform like his brother. He had the attribute of both Dark and Nature attributes, dark being uncommon, nature being a rare attribute, and his rank 7, Princely winged tiger guardian spirit beast with the nature attribute.

Lorance Grazer Clementine the only son of the Noble Clementine family from the kingdom of Floris. This boy was shorter than the four, having light blonde hair, and sparkly midnight blue eyes with a rather cute, sweet, happy face. His attribute was both Charm and Earth, Charm being a Unique attribute, and Earth being quite a common attribute. His guardian spirit beast being a rank 7, Commander earthly ghost wolf.

The last boy was Bryon Peter Gloria from the Gloria, to be precise he was the crown prince of Gloria. His hair was a unique brown that transitioned to a greyish colour, with his eyes being a bright amber that had a very serious and scary aura around him. His attribute was that of another Unique attribute being Teleportation and a common fire attribute. His guardian spirit beast is that of a rank 7, Royal Hair Warrior Tiger with the attribute of fire.

After the revelations of these 4 boys, everyone in the room was stumped, at the 4 geniuses that were discovered today, even the high priests hasn't seen this many magical geniuses be found during an affinity test before.

But due to the high standard, these 4 boys put by going first the next two girls' performance wasn't seen as all that special but still quite impressive none-the-less. The two girls being, Victoria Delila Mason, also the Kai's arranged fiancé, and Sofia Ever-Rose Clementine the brother of Lorance Grazer Clementine also Daniel's arranged fiancé. Victoria Delila Mason is the main villainous in this story, so that being she naturally had a very cute face with pinkish-purple hair and eyes. Her attribute is that of Crystal and her guardian spirit beast was that of a rank 6, rare purple petal tiger with the crystal attribute. The other main villainous would be Sofia Ever-Rose Clementine which will interfere with two of the routes, she had a quite similar cute look to her brother besides the fact that she had long wavy blonde hair and pale light blue eyes. Her attribute was quite a unique pair as her attributes were that of fire and ice, which were barely seen as the two elements counteract each other. Her guardian spirit beast was that of an also rare feathered peacock with the ice attribute.

*Leona's POV*

Once it was my turn, I stepped up feeling tremendously nervous but tried to stay calm as there was nothing to fear, as I reached out my hand towards the orb, I felt a strange warmth sense running along my arm and once my finger made contact with the transparent orb it lit up brightly, in the colours white and golden yellow providing a feeling of warmth to everyone in the room. "Leona Tulip Carter daughter of the magic healer, Possess strong Light and Healing magic. You, young miss, are very much like your wonderful mother, you will grow up to be another fine magic healer even stronger than your mother." "now if you may step into this circle for me." I follow his request whilst internally feeling proud, and happy of myself, that I'm going to be like mother and that I could help so many people with my magic. Now as I wait in the center of the weird enchantment circle, I feel a rather strong and strange warmth coming from my heart and within seconds a bright white glow happened with it then forming into a long white, blue serpent-like dragon floating in front of me. It was so cute and magical, the glittering stars on its body and the soft, fluffy fur, "Hello, Mistress I am Dona you guardian spirit beast, nice to finally meet you, Leona." I break from my thoughts with Dona, as I hear the high priest announce my guardian spirit beast, "Young Lady Carter has a rank 7, Spatial Wish Dragon. With the attribute of healing." The audience stare at Dona and me in amazement, I see mother and father happily smiling whilst father has mother in his embrace.

I step down from the stage and head over to my parents, to which they congratulate and praise me. We quietly sit back down and continue watching the remaining participants, the remaining few wasn't all that much to look at, seeing as they didn't match up to the boys or my performance, who went before them.

In all honesty, I felt bad for them, but my train of thought was interrupted by my parents who told me that I should be proud and happy today and that I could tell the news to Little Lilith back at the manor tomorrow. Which got me back to thinking about my little sister's cute and funny moments.

~An hour has past~

*No-ones POV*

It's 6pm now and the ball has commenced, the parents have left to another room, leaving the children to meet and get to know each other. Leona headed towards the food area first grabbing herself a frosted cream bun and three macaroons, then found a table near a large window looking out into the starry night sky. She happily ate her food whilst reminiscing about her little sister, Leona then starts talking to Dona who is currently in her space (inside Leona's body, all Guardian spirit beasts reside within the master/mistresses body, they can be called out to which they take on their physical form).

During Leona's whole actions, she missed the love-struck looks from the majority of the boy participants and the envious glares sent to her by the whole girl population of the participants.

The fact that she didn't seem to notice, made them even more infuriated but they couldn't do anything partly because their love interest (aka, the 4 geniuses) were here.

Speaking of the 4 geniuses, the moment they entered the ballroom they were swarmed by many lovestruck girls, yelling over the top of each other. If not for the fact that this was a public event and their four loves were standing right in front of them, it could be said that these girls would've brutally fought each other.

These 4 boys unfazed by the numerous stares of admiration, love, hate, and envy from everyone, well besides a particular lonely blonde girl who sat looking out into the night, without a care for what was happening right now.

This action of Leona's sparked an interest in all 4 boys as they never have experienced a time where they weren't the center of everyone's attention, much less so from the opposite sex. Leona's indifference and her results from the test earlier, only made them more interested in her.

~And so the start of the ballroom scene from the game happens~

The 4 boys excuse themselves from the swarm of girls and head over to where Leona was currently seated. Receiving even more spiteful and hateful glares from the boys who were silently enjoying Leona's beauty, seeing as the beautiful angel who wasn't paying attention to the 4 geniuses was going to be snatched from them.

Unfazed, the 4 boys make their way to Leona and introducing themselves.

"Hello, Young Miss. How has your evening been? My name is Kai Rogers Azrael and this is my twin Daniel Wilber Azrael." Kai says giving Leona a bow and then gesturing towards his twin brother Daniel, who was beside him who also gave a bow.

"My name is Lorance Grazer Clementine, and he's Bryon Peter Gloria," Lorance says smiling whilst giving a short bow and slinging his arm around Bryon."

"Umm, hello Miss Leona are you there?"

Leona who didn't realise they were talking to her until hearing them call out her name, the moment she turned her head to face them. Leona was taken back by their actions and so were the 4 boys. They never expected that Leona was not only a talented girl but was also extremely cute too, now they understand why multiple boys gazes were fixed on her since the moment she stepped into the room.

"Ah, Greetings to the Crown prince and 2nd Prince of Azrael, as well as the young master of the Clementine family and Crown Prince of Gloria. It's very nice to meet you." Leona says respectfully whilst getting out of her seat and curtseying.

Unknown to them this simple gesture of greeting between the 5, was going to be the start of their journey together as their fates have now been linked by the invisible string of love, hate, loss, and forgiveness.